Master-keyboard



W. P. ZENT. 'MASTEB KEYBOARD. APPLICATION FILED m1. I8, 1919.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921 5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

waiter-ne W. P. ZENT.

MASTER KEYBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.18,1919.

1,394, 02, Patented. 001;. 25, 1921.

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J72 Vera zo r Jz'iorzzey W. P. ZENT.

MASTER KEYBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-18,19I9- Patented Oct. 25,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

frzvenz ar' W. P. ZENT.

MASTER KEYBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.18, 1919.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921..

5 SHEETSSHEEI 5.

jnaerzi'a} on being removed.

WAYNE r. ZENT, OFITROY, new YORK.

T 0 all to iwm it may concern ,1

Be it known that I, W'AYNE P. ZEN'I, a

citizenpf the United States, residing at Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Master-Keyboards, of which the following is a Specification.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon.'which form a part of this specification; Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein.

My invention relates to improvements in composing, or setting typographical characters such as letters, figures, signs and other typographical marks. My invention is adapted for use in connection with'various kinds of machines em ploying a keyboard or the like with keys by the operation of which marks or typographical characters are impressed, composed or set in desired successive order or relation to one another.

The-invention isparticularly adapted for use in connection with the keyboards of linotype machines of various kinds as well as the keyboards of typesetting machines of various kinds. 7

The principal object of my invention is to provide by the use of a small number of keys of a master-keyboard, for the operation in desired successive order or relationship of a relatively large'number of keys in another keyboard in connection with V which the master-keyboard is adapted to be used.

Other objects will appear in connection with the following description.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure'l of the drawings is a top plan view of a master-keyboard embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the same.-

' Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same. 'Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectlon of the same taken on'the broken line 4+4 in Fig.

5, the cover-plate and parts mounted there- Fig. 5'is a plan view of'the keyboard shown in Fig. 1, with the cover-plate and parts mounted thereon removed.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectionof the Specification of Letters Patent.

MASTER-KEYBOARD.

Application filed January 18 1919. Serial No. 271,922;

same taken on Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the coverplate and parts mounted thereon.

Fig. 8 is a view in rear elevation of the same in inverted position.

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-section of the keyboard taken on the broken line 99 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 'is a vertical cross-section taken on the broken line 1010 in Fig. 5.v

Fig. 11 is a similar section taken on the broken line 11-11 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of one of the shorter slide-bars.

Fig. 13 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the same, takenon the broken line 1313 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a view in side elevation of one ofthe plungers detached.

Fig. 15 is a view in side elevation of one of the plungers and units-keys showing the manner in which the same is mounted upon the cover-plate of the master-keyboard the plunger being shown in elevated position.

, Fig. 16 is a similar view with the plunger depressed.

Fig. 17 is a horizontal cross-section of the same taken on the broken line 1717 in Fig. 15. V

Figs. 18; 19 and 20 are respectively top plan and'sectional views illustrating guiding mechanism for the slide-bars in their reciprocating movements. 1

Referring to the'drawings wherein the invention is shown in preferred form, 1 is the main frame or casing of my master-keyboard which is adapted to be removably mounted or supported upon the keyboard frame of an ordinary linotype machine or other machine having a. keyboard in connection with which my master-keyboard is adapted to be used.

I have shown no such keyboard. in the drawings as the same may be any keyboard of a linotype machine, typesetting machine, type-writing machine, adding machine or the like.

In Figs. 4 and 9 however, I have shown the relative positions of some of the keys the broken line 6-6 in of a linotype or other machine in connection are mounted upon the frame of the-masterkeyboard' extending longitudinally thereof, and adapted to reciprocate longitudinally thereof.

Each of these bars, 2 and 3, carries a plurality of spring-supported plungers, 4, which normally are out of alinement with the respective keys, 5, on the linotype keyboard or similar keyboard (not shown) but which are adapted to be moved by the longitudinal shifting of the bars, 2 or 3, into alinement respectively with a plurality of said linotype keys, 5.

A plurality of keys, B B, are movably mounted on a removable top or c0ver-plate,7, of the master-keyboard-frame in alinement with a plurality of the linotype keys, 5, alined at right angles to the respective plurality of linotype keys with which the plungers on the several bars, 2 and 3, are adapted to aline when said bars are longitudinally shifted.

In the preferred form of construction, by longitudinally shifting the respective bars, 2 or 3, each of the plungers, 4, can be brought not only over one of the linotype keys, 5, but also beneath one of the masterkeyboard keys, B, B, and in like manner one plunger on each bar, 2 or'3, can be brought beneath each of the master-keyboard keys, B, B.

The plungers, 4, are normally out of alinement with the master-keyboard keys, B, B, as well as out of alinement with the linotype keys, 5, as shown by the bar, 3, at the right hand end of Fig. 9. It said bar, 3, be shifted to the left as shown in said Fig. 9, the plungers, 4, carried thereby will be brought directly beneath the respective master-keyboard keys, B. Thus by shifting the proper bar, 2 or 3, and pressing down the proper master-keyboard key, B or B, any desired linotype key, 5, can be depressed or operated.

As a means for shifting the respective bars, 2 and 3, I have shown mounted upon the frame of the master-keyboard st key, 8, in the form of an angle lever, fulcrumed at 9, and adapted to be. actuated by a fingerpiece, A, said lever being engage-able with the..respective slide-bar, 2 01:3, to positively move the same longitudinally to a position inwhich the plungers, 4, carried by said 7 slide-bar will be in alinement respectively with keys, 5, of the linotype keyboard, and with keys, B, B, of the master-keyboard, in which position a downward thrust upon one of said master-keyboard keys, B, B, will be transmitted by the respective plunger, 4, to the respective linotype key, 5.

, Return movement of the several bars, 2 or 3,-is induced by a coil-spring, 11,connecting the respective bar, 2 or 3, with the frame of the keyboard.

The slide-bars, 2 and 3, are severally releasably held in shifted position by means of a latch, 10, in the form of a plate, pivotally mounted at 12, upon the frame of the keyboard, and extending across one end of the keyboard in position to servefas' a com monlatch for all of the slide-bars, 2 or 3, adjacent to that end of the master-keyboard.

Each of the angle-levers, 8, has a wedgeshaped lower end, 13, which normally rests beneath the latch-plate,'10, but which is, adapted to raise said latch-plate and pass out from beneath the same when said lever is actuated by the finger-piece, A.

When said wedge-shaped member, 13, has passed out from beneath the latch-plate, 10, the latter falls by gravity. to a position which looks said lever, 8, and the correspending slide-bar, 2 or 3, in shiftedposition until said latch-plate, 10, is'again raised. The latcl1-plate,1,0, may be raised in any known manner. a

As shown,'each operation of a finger-piece, A, causes thelatch-plate to be raised thereby releasing for return movement any other previously shifted lever, 8, and slide-bar, 2 or 3, at that end of the machine. 7

The finger-pieces, A, may be provided with any desired. indicating characters. I have shown nine of these finger-pieces, each designated by the letter A, and numbered in tens from ten to ninety. 1

In preparing the linotype machine for use with my master-keyboard, I place in the magazine of the linotype machine (not shown) a set of matrices adapted to be delivered by operation of the respective linotype keys, 5, certain of these matrices bearing a single numeral and others two numerals side by side, and the relationship of these matrices to the respective linotype keys, 5, is such that the plungers carried by .certain of the bars, 2 or 3, will, when one of said bars is shifted, aline with a plurality oi linotype-keys, 5, having the same tens plurality cf'linotype keys,.5, controlling the respective numbers from ten to nineteen inclusive. I r V a r In like manner the lowermost bar, 2, shown at the left-hand end of Fig. 5,-. is adapt ed to be shifted by the finger-piece, A, hear ing the numeral 60, to cause its plungers, 4, to aline witha plurality of linotype keys, 5, controlling the delivery of matrices hearing the respective numbers from 60to69 inclusive. p

The angle-levers, 8, may thus properly be termed tens-k ys; they determine the tensdigit of numbers from 10 to 99 inclusive.

For convenience 'of operation the unitskeys, B, .B, which are necessarilyof considerable length are actuated by plungers, 15, having finger-pieces, l6.

The finger-pieces, 16, for the nine master-keyboard keys, B, B, at the left-hand end of the keyboard as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, are numbered respectively from zero to 9 inclusive to indicate the second or unitsdigit of a tens and-units number, and the relationship of the matrices to the respective linotype keys, 5, is such that the plungers, a, on certain of the bars, 2, will when the bar is shifted aline respectively with a plu rality of the linotype keys, 5, controlling the delivery of matrices bearing unitsdigits corresponding with the digits on the respective finger-pieces, 16, of the master-keyboard keys, B, B.

In operating the machine with the master-keyboard for delivery of a matrix bearing a tens-and-units number the fingerpiece, A, for the proper tens-key, 8, is depressed causing the slide-bar, 2, which is associated with the proper tens-digit to be shifted, and when said bar is'so shifted its plungers 4, are in alinement with the respective master-keyboard units-keys, B, B, the finger-pieces 16 of which are above referred to as numbered from zero to nine inclusive, and also in alinement with the re spective linotype keys, 5, controlling the delivery of the matrices, the tens-digit of which is the same as that associated with the shifted bar, 2.

After the bar, 2, has thus been shifted the operation of one of said master-keyboard units-keys, B, B the finger-pieces 16 of which are above referred to as numbered from zero to nine inclusive, will depress and operate a single linotype key, 5, which controls the delivery of a matrix bearing a number, the tens-digit of which is the same as that of the operated fingerpiece, A, and the units-digit the same as that of the operated finger-piece, 16. V

Vith a suitably designed linotype keyboard a single set of units-keys, B, B numbered from zero to nine inclusive would be sutlicient to cooperate with a single set of nine slide-bars, 2, actuated by finger-pieces,

A, numbered in tens from ten to ninety inclusive to provide for the delivery of matrices from ten to ninety-nine inclusive.

As the linotype machine for which the master-keyboard shown in the drawings is particularly designed does not have a keyboard adapt-ed tobe operated by my master keyboard provided with asingle series of keys, B, B, I have shown at the left-hand. end of Fig. 5, a set of'slide-bars, 2, operated by tens-keys, 8, the finger-pieces, A, of which are numbered in tens from ten to sixty inclusive, each of a len th to cooperate with ten unit keys, B, of the master-keyboard; and at the right hand end of said figure, I have shown shorter slide-bars, 3, coupled together in pairs by yokes, 14, adapted to be shifted by the respective tens-keys, 8, the fingerpieces A of which are numbered respectively, seventy, eighty and ninety, and cooperative with two shorter sets of units-keys, B, the finger-pieces 16 of which are numbered respectively from Zero to nine inclusive, the construction and manner of operation of which are substantially the same as above described.

In the foregoing description I have referred to the matrices as bearing numerical characters, but it will be understood that the, principle involved and the manner of operation will be the same with matrices bearing any other typographical characters, such as letters, numbers, spaces, rules, ornamental figures, etc. Thus a matrix may bear any two digits; a single digit either as a tens or units digit with the corresponding space at the right or left thereof; a digit preceded or followed by a decimal point, punctuation mark, or rule; or a numerical digit preceded or followed by a letter or any other character.

It will also be understood that my masterkeyboard is adapted for use not only with linotype or typesetting machines, but also with various other machines having keyboards such as typewriting' machines and the like, it being immaterial for certain purposes of the invention whether the operation of the keys of said machine through the me- (hum of my master-keyboard releases matmaster keyboard is to be used.

In the use of linotype machines the matrices are commonly provided with two molding faces, and the machine has suitable adjusting mechanism whereby the matrices can be assembled with either of said molding faces on one matrix alined with either of said molding faces on a neighboring matrix.

That is, the several matrices can be assembled in either of two molding positions at the will of the operator. lVith such a machine it will be apparent that the capacity of my master-keyboard will be doubled without change in the number of keys, and plungers.

In such a case each operation of a fingerpiece, 16,01? the master-keyboard would cause the delivery of a matrix having two values,

that is, bearing two molding faces the values of which or the characters shown by which can be memorized by the operator or can be indicated on the cover-plate of the masterkeyboard. V

Thus immediately at the right of 'the finger-pieces, A, at the left-hand end of the master-keyboard in Fig. 1, I have shown opposite the finger-piece bearing the number 10, a similar number 10, and directly beneath the same' the information space 0 to 9 which indicates that depression of this finger-piece, A, marked 10 brings the plungers, 4, on the slide-bar, 2, controlled by said finger-piece into line with the respective keys of the linotype which control the delivery of matrices, each bearing two molding faces, one set of said molding faces bearing the numerals from 10 to 19 inclusive, and the other-set bearing the numera s 0 to 9 inclusive each preceded by a space, the operator adjusting the matrix for whichever molding position is desired.

In like manner the master-keyboard can be adapted for any desired characters. Thus the finger-piece, A, numbered 60 controls the delivery of matrices which not only bear the numbers from 60 to 69 inclusive on one set of molding faces, but also bear other characters such as quads and fractional expresslons on another set of molding faces which other characters are indicated on the master-keyboardidirectly beneath the respective fingerpieces, 16.

I am thus able to provide for combinations ofdigitswith a space, decimal point or vertical rule on either side of the digit; or digits, each preceded by a sign, 0 or the like, or

' similar combinationsof any desired single form, and may be movable in any desired manner whereby thcyvare adapted to 0p" erate in substantially the manner above described.

I have shown these keys B, B formed of sheet-metal and adapted to be operated by a rocking movement, each key being rockably mounted upon the top or cover-plate, 7, of the machine by means of a shaft, 17 having bearings, in said cover-plate.

The slide-bars, 2 and 3, may be adapted for longitudinal back and forth movement in any known manner as by suitable slideways or by rollers, 18.

The plungers, 1, are yieldingly supported in the respective slide-bars by means of coilsprings, 19, as shown in Fig. 13.

For certain features and purposes of the invention, this application is a continuation 'of an application filed by me March 22, 1917,

Serial No. 156,791, for master-keyboards.

I have illustrated in the drawings and above described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but I do not wish to be limited members maybe of any desired form'adapted for the purpose; also the carriers for these members represented by the plungers, a, while shown as slide-bars, 2,;3, may be any form'of carrier adapted for the purpose.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- p 1. A masterkeyboard having means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, said master-keyboard having a plurality of keys adapted to aline with a plurality of keys on said other keyboard; a shiftable plunger-carrying bar with plungers moved by the shifting of the bar into and out of alinement with a plurality of keys on said other keyboard. alined at right angles to said first mentioned plurality of keys on said. other keyboard, and similarly into and out of alinement with the respective keys on the master-keyboard; and means for shifting-said key-carrying bar.

2. A master-keyboard having means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, said master-key board having a plurality of keys adapted to aline with a plurality of keys on'sa'id other keyboard; a shiftable plunger-carrying bar with plungers moved by the shifting of the bar into and out of alinement with a plurality of keys on said other keyboard alined at right angles to said first mentioned pluralitv of keys on said other keyboard, and

similarly into and out of alinement with the respective keys on the master-keyboard; and shifting-keys on sald master-keyboard where by said plunger-carrying bars can be severally shifted. 1

A masterkeyboard having means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, said master-keyboard having a plurality of keys adapted to aline with a plurality of keys on said other keyboard; a shiftable plunger-carrying bar with plungers moved by the shifting of the bar into and out of alinement'witha plurality of keys'on said other keyboard alined at right angles to said first mentioned plurality of keys on said other keyboard, and similarly into and out of alinement with the re- 1 spective keys on the master-keyboard; shifting-keys on said mastenkeyboardwhereby .and latch-mechanism for'retaining the several bars in shiftedposition until released.

4. A master-keyboard havlng means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, key-operating mem bers shiftable into and out of position to opcrate respectlve keys of said other keyboard,

means for shifting said key-operating members at will into and at will out of position to operate said respective keys, and masterkeyboard keys for actuating the respective key-operating members whensaid members are in positionto operate the respective keys of said other keyboard.

. 5,. A master-keyboard having means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, key-operating members shiftableat will into and at will out of alinement with respective keys of said other keyboard and operatively engageable with said respective keys When inalinement therewith, means for shifting said key-operating members into and out of alinement with the respective keys of said other keyboard, and master-keyboard keys for actuating .the respective key-operating members when said members are in alinement with the respective keys of said other keyboard.

6. A master-keyboard having means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, key-operating members shiftable at will into and at will out of position to operate respective keys of aid other keyboard, common means for simultaneously shifting a plurality of said key-operating members into operative po-' sition with respect to a like plurality of said keys, and master-keyboard keys for actuating said respective key-operating members when in position to o erate the respective keys of said other key oard.

7. A masterkeyboard having means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, a shiftable carrier, key operatingmembers movably mounted on said carrier adapted to be shifted thereby at will into and out of alinement with respective keys of said other keyboard, and master-keyboard keys engageable with said key-operating members respectively when said member are in alinement with the respective keys of said other keyboard.

8. A master-keyboard having means ,whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard; a pluralit of shiftable carriers, key-operating mem ers movably mounted on the respective carriers adapted to be shifted thereby at will into and out of position to operate respective keys of said other keyboard, mean for separately shifting said carriers, and masterkeyboard keys each engageable-with a keyoperating member on each of said carriers when said member is alined with the respective key of said other keyboard.

9. A; master-keyboard having means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, a plurality of slide-bar each having movably mounted thereon a plurality of key-operating mem bers shiftahle by slide-movements of said bars into and out'of position to operate respective keys of said other keyboard, means for imparting slide-movements to said bars severally at will whereby the key-operating members mounted thereon are shifted into position to operate said respective keys, and master keyboard-keys each engageable with a key-operating member on each of a plurality of said slide-bars when said member is alined with the respective key of said other keyboard.

,1(). A master-keyboard having means whereby it can be supported inoperative relation to another keyboard, a plurality of slide-bars each having movably mounted thereon a. plurality of key-operating 'member shiftable by slide-movements of said bars into and out of position to operate respective keys of said other keyboard, mechanism including a separate key for each slidebar for imparting slide-movements to said bars severally at will whereby the key-opcrating members mounted thereon are shifted into position to operate said respective keys of said other keyboard, and masterkeyboard keys each engageable with a keyoperating member on each of a plurality of said slide-bars when said member is alined with the respective key of said other keyboard.

11. A master-keyboard having means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, a plurality of slide-bar each having movably ;mounted thereon a plurality of key-operating members'shiftable by slide-movements of said bars into and out of position to operate respective keys of said other keyboard, means for imparting slide-movements to said bars severally whereby the key-operating members mounted thereon are shifted into position to operate said respective keys, detent mechanism whereby the several slide-bars are releasably held in position for the keyoperating members thereon to operatively engage said respective keys, means whereby said detent mechanism is automatically released by the subsequent movement of another slide-bar to a position for the keyoperating members thereon to operate said respective keys, means for automatically imparting a return movement to said slidebar when released from the detent mechanism, and master-keyboard keys each engageable with a key-operating member on each of a plurality of said slide-bars when said member i alined with the respective key of said other keyboard.

12. A master-keyboard having means whereby it can be supported in operative relation to another keyboard, a plurality of slide-bars each having movably mounted thereon a plurality of key-operating members ghiftable by slide-movements of said bars into and out of position to operate respective keys of said other keyboard,

means for imparting slide-movements to said bars severally whereby the key-0perating members mounted thereon are shifted into position to operate said respective keys, mechanism including a separate key for each slide-bar for imparting slide-movements to said bars severally whereby the key-operating members mounted thereonare shifted into position to oper ate said respective keys of said other key-' board, master-keyboard keys each engageable with a key-operating member on each or" a plurality'of said slide-bar s, vvhen said" member is alined with the respective key of said-other keyboard, finger-pieces'for the respective slide-bar-operating keys bearing 'dications of different units-values.

In testimony WhGrGOfI have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of January, 1919.

I WAYNE P. ZENT. 

